I'm Just Sayin'

I saw this comment on the Trinity Trees blog:

what a bunch of busy bodies... collectivist do gooders...why don't you mind your own business...socialism doesn't work... even though you think that you are quite smart and have noble intentions the honest truth is that you want to control the rightful decisions of other people...i only wish i could inspect your homes and affairs and give you a checklist of mandatory improvements that would enhance your conditions.. and by the way, if you didn't make these changes you would be harrassed and fined...does that sound ok to you or offensive...just mind your own affairs...you sicken me

I kind of laughed when I first read this. I mean, when was the last time anyone accused an opponent of being a socialist? Why didn't this person just go ahead and blame the Wobblies or the Bolsheviks, too?

I just kind of shook my head. Totally doesn't get it, I said. Then saw a link to this study about how liberals are more responsive to informational complexity and it all made sense. As the person wrote, "even though you think that you are quite smart and have noble intentions the honest truth is that you want to control the rightful decisions of other people." I'm not saying I'm smarter than people on the other side of this issue -- just the person who left that comment. I feel safe in saying I'm smarter than that individual.

Regarding "controlling the rightful decisions of other people," I'll say it again -- we respect private property rights and want to negotiate a win-win situation for all parties involved in this issue. But we believe that the people of Fort Worth have a right to have a say in land that has been used by the public and maintained by public money for years.